The worst mining disaster in American History occurred in the community of Monongah, West Virginia on December 6, 1907. Around 10 o'clock in the morning after a full force of 380 men and boys had begun their shift, mines number 6 and 8 of the Consolidated Coal Company shook from the impact of an underground explosion. A total of 362 men and boys lost there lives leaving 250 widows and over 1000 children without support. As the centennial continues throughout the year, the town dedicated a monument to honor the widows of the miners on Friday, August 17, 2007. In a strange occurrence, a cross appeared directly behind the monument as a priest said a prayer. They also had a memorial service at the cemetery where nearly all of the victims of the disaster where buried. As part of the service 362 candelabras where placed on the tombstones and the rest made a giant cross in the middle of the cemetery.

TOP: Harry Orlando, 74, is consoled by Kathy Vargo, who works nearby along Fifth Avenue in the Soho section of the city, and came to check on his safety after the building where his business is located collapsed during severe thunderstorms that passed through the region on Thursday evening, August 9, 2007. MIDDLE: Geneva Johnson, 18, embraces her aunt Mary Broddie, 77, who's home along Fifth Avenue was heavily damaged and partially collapsed. BOTTOM: Harry Orlando, 74, stands across the street from his barber shop along Fifth Avenue where he has worked since he was 6 years old.

TOP: Marisa Jendrasik, 16, of Springdale isn't bothered by the hot weather, as she splashes in the Boyce Park Wave Pool on Wednesday afternoon, as temperatures once again reached the 90 degree mark. BOTTOM: Joslyn Rankin, 21, of Turtle Creek gives her daughter, Joslyn Rivera, 2, a kiss while cooling off in the Boyce Park Wave Pool on Wednesday afternoon, as temperatures once again reached the 90 degree mark.

This is a great example of going to an assignment that seemed to have the possibility of a good image, only to find out that the reporter had not communicated to the subject why I was actually coming to photograph him. The farmer was supposed to be photographed working with his horses and their manure for a story on the new regulations on horse manure use. So, after talking to the farmer he refused to be photographed and instead sent me out into his field with about 50 horses. This one seemed extremely interested in me, and seemed to watch me as much as I watched it. It's not an earth-shattering image, but I liked it's simplicity and enjoyed the horse's antics.

Ashley Taylor, 9, of Coraopolis holds her stuffed animal as she prepares to leave for a four-day transplant camp in West Virginia. Taylor, who had a liver transplant 4 years ago is excited to head off to camp, but admits she's a little nervous about being away from her mom for so long. In the background, Isabelle Christenson, 9, who had a stomach, liver, small bowel, and pancreas transplants 2 years ago and a kidney transplant 1 year ago waits for the bus to arrive at the Holiday Inn Select in Oakland to take them to camp.

Democratic National Committee Chairman, Howard Dean, addresses members of the crowd at a Democratic National Committee fundraiser at the Church Brew Works in Lawrenceville on Wednesday afternoon, August 1, 2007.

About Me

Justin Merriman, an award-winning photojournalist with the Tribune-Review, has spent more than a decade traveling the world to cover politics, wars, natural disasters and civil unrest. His work has appeared in leading national and international publications and he has received numerous top journalism awards. After covering the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks – including the crash of United Flight 93 in Shanksville – Merriman committed to chronicling the U.S. military and its War on Terror. He has followed this story across the US and into the war zones of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq. He also has covered life in Fidel Castro’s Cuba in 2002, India’s efforts to eradicate polio, the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Cuba in 2012, the 2013 conclave and election of Pope Francis in Rome, the second anniversary of Egypt's revolution and subsequent unrest, and most recently, Russia's invasion of Crimea and the international crisis that unfolded in Ukraine. Merriman lives in Oakmont with his fiancé, Stephanie Strasburg.